easy time of it here. Folks--specially th' women's--goin'
t' have it in for you quite a bit."

"No," Elizabeth answered promptly. "I'll take whatever comes from my
neighbours. I can shut my doors and keep them outside, but, Luther, I
can't go on as things have been on the inside of my own house. I don't
want to talk about it at all, even to you, but I shall let him go. It's
better than some other things. We'd simply come to the place where we had
to understand each other. I'd a great deal rather have him back than to
have him gone, but he wouldn't understand at all if I sent for him."

Luther looked at her approvingly and yet something in him held back. He
longed to spare her all the low tittle-tattle of her neighbours, the
coarse jests of the hired men among themselves, and the eternal suspicions
of the women.

"I know all you would say, Luther," she said, understanding his reluctance
to give up. "I know what these women who think I haven't wanted to visit
them will say, and I don't blame them, but I will not send for him now or
ever. I have wronged him in ways he has known nothing of--maybe the
scandal I haven't deserved at his hands will square that deal a
little--but that is not the present difficulty. We'll have to have an
agreement about our plan of life together. If he ever comes back I shall
never deceive him again, but I will never be deceived by him again,
either."

"Well, you know best, Lizzie. I'll talk to Jake for you. You'd best try t'
keep him an' Hepsie. They're good friends an' you're goin' t' need
friends."

* * * * *

Luther saw that the buggy was got ready for Elizabeth and Hepsie, and
after they had gone talked to the men, telling them that Elizabeth had
asked him to do so. He told them her offer was for them to stay on at the
usual wage, or go now so that she could fill their places. After they had
signified their willingness to remain in her employment, he took Jake
aside and had a long talk with him.

Jake Ransom filled with anger when the two were alone.

"I didn't say anything when you was a talkin' t' them men," he said
confidentially, "but I ain't lived in this house for close on three year
now without learnin' somethin'. Damned fool! never done nothin' she's
wanted 'im to since I've been here. She got 'er eye-teeth cut when Mis
Hornby died, but it most killed 'er. I've watched 'er a gittin' hold of
'erself gradual-like, an' I knew there'd b